Today we look at the FirstRungNow.com website for first time buyers. The site is aimed at providing advice for first time buyers. It’s reported that a growing student debt is stopping first-time buyers stepping on property ladder. FirstRungNow.com are there to make it an easier purchase with helpful advice.
Site Usability
The site had some very helpful areas.
For example the first article i noticed “How to Buy a House – 23 steps to the process!” Now if i was a first time buyer, that would interest me.
Navigation was simple and enabled me to find relevant articles quickly. The archives were easy to find and had an archives back to 2005. With articles being updated several times a week, the site is a library of useful information.
I did feel the site was little heavy on Google adwords, but this was due to the blue links not complementing the red style used in the site. I believe this was the issue rather than number of adds.
Site Features
I like the way the site was broken into regional articles with local events and news. A list of options included: new build guide, buying property with friends, joint/shared ownership, shared equity, buy to let, a guide to new build homes and first time mortgages.
Helen Adams from FirstRungNow told us, “Our site is for anyone wanting to buy their first home in the UK. We explain terms such as joint ownership, shared equity and shared ownership as well as giving information on different types of mortgages and mortgage brokers. We are the only (and were the first) website JUST for aspiring first time buyers – and their parents who often want to assist. We promote the big property portals such as Rightmove and PrimeLocation and work with specialist legal firms and mortgage advisors. We also explain the legal process of property purchasing as well as the governments schemes and how to get onto them.
It appears with 35,000 visitors each month there is no sign of decline as yet. Impressive as many have noticed a decrease in the last 12 months during the difficult period for buyers.
Helen went on to tell us, “The banking crisis has effected first time buyers hugely as the lenders are building reserves and coping with repossession costs and are very reluctant to take risks. This means they are extremely picky about who they lend to. This means that for every aspiring first time buyer who actually moves in there are hundreds who can’t get a mortgage”.
We asked Helen, about the recent change in HIPS, did it effect your specialised market during its limited period?. She responded, “HIPS were actually good for first time buyers, taking some of the risk out of that first purchase by providing extra information. The average age of FTBs is around 35, half of them get help from parents or grandparents for the deposit and/or the mortgage”.
Conclusion
The site is the perfect site for first time buyers to get informed with free information and articles.
The company tag line is : Mortgage & Property Advice Centre for First Time Home Buyers. It would be a sensible decision to at least visit the site and download the free advice before making any financial commitment.
Helen Adams : FirstRungNow
http://www.firstrungnow.com/
Yes, useful little website with lots of information.